August 2008
International News
Practice Management
Continuing Education and Events		 State Legislative Activities
AAAOM Activities
AAAOM Student Organization		 National AOM Issues
Links
Products, Services, and Member Savings

Table of Contents:

International News



State Legislative Activities


Sponsors of:

National AOM Issues



Practice Management


Sponsors of:

AAAOM Activities



Links


Sponsors of:

Continuing Education and Events



AAAOM Student Organization


Products, Services, and Member Savings

 

Greetings AOM Members and Colleagues:

If you have not yet had the time to take advantage of the early bird discount for the upcoming 2008 Expo in Chicago, please log-on to the AAAOM store. The discount ends on August 31st!

www.aaaomonline.com

This month we bring you a rather pragmatic version of the Qi-Unity Report, led by Carrie Craddock’s advice on producing a solid business plan for your practice. You can also read about the new acupuncture practice act in Delaware and about efforts to get a practice act moving in Mississippi. Meanwhile the AAAOM-SO—experiencing unbelievable growth—announces its new organizational structure. Read also about the Sustainable Living Roadshow taking its model for a healthy society on tour. With John Weeks checking in with the latest incarnation of the Integrator Blog and Regina Danvers explaining why she began a television show on alternative medicine, one thing is clear: there’s always something happening in the AOM field! The Qi-Unity Report is always your source for the latest.

As we approach the Chicago conference in October, we invite you to meditate on how far we have come, on where we are, and on where the AOM profession is headed. You are an important part of this unfolding story, and we appreciate your membership in the AAAOM. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” which is to say we are all in this together. On this note, please encourage any of your practitioner friends who are not yet members of the AAAOM to join. Increased numbers leverage your membership into greater influence. We continue to grow with robust participation—driven by those who wish to protect scope of practice, engage on a legislative level, and seek greater statutory recognition. To do all this and more, we depend on you. Put another way by AAAOM IT manager Brian Smither, “Help us help you to represent the AOM profession.”

Once again we extend our appreciation to Golden Flower, Kan Herb, and Mayway for choosing to sponsor the Qi-Unity Report. If you are one of our business partners, wouldn’t you like to join them? Your continued support invigorates the AAAOM and serves to remind us that the AOM profession is, in many ways, the sum of our collective efforts as a community. Thank you sponsors, for your support! We ask our practitioner members to patronize those businesses that have put themselves forward to support your profession.

We hope this edition of the Qi-Unity Report keeps you informed of the various issues that affect your life and practice in AOM. As usual, we’re here for you and would love to hear what you think.

The AAAOM is interested in your feedback. We invite you to use our General Feedback page to let us know your opinions and insights.

International News

Links to International AOM Articles

Future of popular Chinese herbal medicine up in the air: Demand soars, populations dwindle of caterpillar fungus used to treat many conditions.
www.sciam.com
www.atimes.com

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated categorically that herbal drugs are viable component in the treatment of HIV/ AIDs and other diseases especially to poor communities, particularly in Africa.
africasciencenews.org

A laboratory to determine standards for the ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicine will be built in Shanghai.
www.shanghaidaily.com

Study suggests there is insufficient evidence to indicate acupuncture helps women conceive when undergoing fertility treatments, say British researchers at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting.
in.reuters.com

The PanAfrican Acupuncture Project trains healthcare workers in Africa to use simple and effective acupuncture techniques that enable them to treat the devastating and debilitating symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB.
www.panafricanacupuncture.org

State Legislative Activities

Update on Acupuncture in Mississippi

By Jerusha W. De Groote, MSOM, LAc

The 2009 legislative session is drawing close and the Mississippi Oriental Medicine Association is gearing up! Our organization made some excellent headway last year, passing House Bill 724 through Public Health and Welfare Committee. The Acupuncture Practice Act of 2008 saw many changes along its journey, but, ultimately, died on the floor of the Mississippi House of Representatives. The demise of this bill followed shortly after the Mississippi State Medical Association, a physicians’ interest group, placed a scathing letter on the desk of each member of the House condemning the licensure for acupuncturists, stating that it was “bad medicine,” and urged the members to vote against it. This coming year, our association is hoping to gather more participants in the cause for initial legislation in Mississippi for acupuncturists.

The legislative history of acupuncture in Mississippi is over a decade long. Previous to 2008, two bills have failed to achieve licensure in this state, leaving it to be one of the last seven in the nation that do not recognize NCCAOM certified acupuncturists. Physicians are the only group allowed to practice in Mississippi if they have attained an additional 200 hours of training. This law is guarded carefully, resulting in admonishment from the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure. This makes acupuncture in Mississippi a crime by anyone who is not a medical doctor. Unfortunately, this struggle has become a battle over territory and scope of practice on many occasions.

After receiving a cease and desist from the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure in July of 2007, I founded the Mississippi Oriental Medicine Association (MOMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to enacting fair and safe acupuncture laws in Mississippi. This group is empowering practitioners and patients alike to make a difference in their community and state by uniting together and letting our voices be heard. The 2008 legislative session was an excellent start, but we still need more help!

Practitioners of TCM in Mississippi are few and far between. Considering the law, no nationally certified practitioners are going to move to a state where their hard-earned education and certification goes unrecognized. Our small number is the main reason we need more help here on the ground. There is strength in numbers! If we explain the need for this licensure in Mississippi to our representatives as a group, we will have a better chance to pass this bill.

As a Mississippian, I greatly desire to practice in my home state where my friends and family live. After Hurricane Katrina, my state was crippled, and I rushed back home to help my family rebuild. There are so many other people out there that are doing the same—coming back to restore. Many practitioners and students of TCM are included in this homecoming and have joined MOMA in the effort to show a need for this legislation. In the meantime, practitioners like myself are forced to work in neighboring states in order to continue their practice. I commute to Memphis, Tennessee, three days a week where I have joined others in providing quality TCM care to the community. That is a three hour drive just to practice! Many patients at this clinic are from Mississippi, so they are compelled to make this drive as well. This is a difficult situation for practitioners and patients, but I believe it shows true dedication for this medicine. With perseverance, this law will change soon.

Properly educated and NCCAOM certified practitioners of TCM and their supporters have been joining forces across the Southeast to help usher in this initial legislation in Mississippi. We at MOMA are sending out a call to action for practitioners in neighboring states and national organizations to come to our aid in Mississippi and help during the 2009 legislative session.

Our website, www.mississippiacupuncture.org, is a resource where supporters can find links to their representatives as well as sample letters they can use to send en masse during the 2009 session. There will also be a link to help supporters track the bill and read it contents.

We are working to expand and become an information source for acupuncture in Mississippi. We have developed a Bill Writing Committee to pen a piece of legislation that incorporates many of the changes that were suggested last year. And most importantly, we are providing contact information for the MOMA office, where you can become a member and join our mailing list. Creating a buzz about this issue within the TCM community, as well as the state as a whole, is of utmost importance. This requires communication. Please consider coming to Jackson to join us at the Capitol where we can help to educate. Our website will have news as it happens, and it will have updates on time and location as the need arises.

Enacting initial legislation for acupuncture in Mississippi is another rung in the ladder of success for the Oriental medicine community throughout the nation. It is only after legislation occurs in every state that our profession will have the unification needed to push for federal recognition and regulation. More research and greater advances for our profession as a whole will follow. Please consider joining our efforts and contact MOMA to see what you can do to help.

Jerusha W. De Groote, MSOM, LAc
4035 D North State Street
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 398.0081 office
(512) 663.0502 cell
www.mississippiacupuncture.org

Further details:
Mississippi House Bill 724

Delaware Gets an AOM Practice Act

By Lorna Lee, LAc

Highlights of the Delaware Practice Act (HB 377):

A Diplomate in Oriental medicine is required for licensing.

The scope of practice includes herbs.

The profession will be governed by an Acupuncture Advisory Council consisting of 4 acupuncturists and one physician member of the Board of Medical Practice. It also will have one physician with acupuncture training as a non-voting member.

The Council will perform the 3 functions of a board: writing regulations to interpret the law, reviewing license applications, and overseeing disciplinary actions. Council decisions are sent to the Board of Medical Practice which gives final approval.

All practitioners currently in the state will be grandfathered, regardless of their level of herbal training. (This involves 27 acupuncturists and 2 apprentices.)

The Council may waive the OM requirement for practitioners who can show sufficient education, training, or qualifications.

Only single-use needles are allowed to be used.

There is no provision for detox specialists, as Delaware already has code to regulate acupuncture in detox centers.

History of the Bill

AN INAUSPICIOUS BEGINNING

In 1972, when acupuncture sprang into the national scene after Nixon visited China, the Delaware Attorney General issued the opinion that a medical license was required to practice acupuncture. This placed acupuncturists in an uneasy position for the next 36 years. Interestingly enough, this opinion also predicted that the law should change as accredited training programs developed for professions other than physicians.

There have been previous efforts to get licensing in Delaware, but, being a small state with a small number of practitioners, the political will was not strong enough. In 2003, an official group named the Delaware Oriental Medicine Association was formed which was later disbanded due to lack of funds needed to pay an accountant. However, it was very useful to make some positive connections at our meetings and to gather a list of the practitioners in the state.

During this time we identified Representative Pamela Maier as the best person to sponsor our bill. However, she never responded to our phone calls or emails so we gave up trying to recruit her for this. In the mean time I made sure that I met my own Representative and Senator as a constituent, which paid off later when we were again asking for sponsors. Because they knew my name and knew that acupuncture needed licensing, they willingly supported the bill. (No donations were necessary.)

GETTING ORIENTED

In the spring of 2007, a patient told me about a controversial Senate committee meeting which I attended in Dover, the state capital. After the meeting I found the elusive Rep. Pam Maier's office and was able to have a quick meeting with her. She told me she would be happy to sponsor our bill and also gave me a name to call in the Department of Professional Regulation (DPR). This turned out to be the director, James Collins, who gave me his invaluable opinion about the best way to set up licensing. Of several options used in other states, he told me he would be willing to support our having an advisory council working under the Board of Medical Practice. We certainly couldn't justify or financially support having a separate Acupuncture Board with only 27 practitioners state-wide. (Board costs are paid for by the fees collected from licensees. With a minimum estimated cost of operating a Board being around $26,000, and having only 27 potential licensees, the math doesn’t add up.) We also did not want to simply be “under” the Board without any input, which is the situation in Pennsylvania and has resulted in many headaches for acupuncturists there.

Some states have managed to get licensing through the DPR or equivalent agency without any Board oversight at all, but Mr. Collins told me he would not support this option. This set-up is already used by the Respiratory Care Therapists in Delaware and works very well. I went to one of the Respiratory Care meetings and learned that their Council really does all the work and the Board almost always approves what they recommend.

Bad Press

Now that it was clear how to proceed, a few of us began our work. This was all done informally, without involving a lobbyist or a formal organization. The morning a strategy meeting was held, the local newspaper published a story about all us “illegal Delaware acupuncturists.” This didn’t surprise us because the reporter had interviewed several of us, but seeing the implication of felony in black and white did stir up a lot of motivation to get a bill done!

Drafting a Bill

How do you get a properly-worded legal draft of a licensing bill when you don't have your own lawyer? Well, just have a state lawyer write it for you! And be prepared to go over the implications of every single word.

In October, we had arranged to meet with our sponsor, Rep. Pam Maier, who invited Senator Margaret Rose Henry to be our sponsor in the Senate. They both had often worked on health-related bills. (Senator Henry also wanted to support the bill because she had been my acupuncture patient!) We gave them a proposal outlining what we wanted the bill to include: scope of practice; licensing requirements; having an acupuncture advisory council; waiver and grandfathering clauses. The proposal also included many things gleaned from problems and solutions in other similar state laws.

While we waited for the state lawyer to draft the bill, we printed up an Acupuncture Information Packet which we planned to give to the legislators and anyone else who might need background. Funds for putting this packet together and mailing it were provided by a generous grant from the Maryland Acupuncture Society. Thank you MAS!

The Assembly Session Begins– Only Six Months to Pass a Bill

In January we called a meeting so that all Delaware acupuncturists could review the draft of the bill. Almost half of the practitioners (12 people) in the state attended. Email and print copies were also sent out to all practitioners. Many opinions and suggestions were discussed and changes were made over the next several months. It was a wonderful process to see how the bill’s content improved over time with input from many minds, including people from the NCCAOM, colleagues from Pennsylvania and various state officials, as well as the acupuncturists.

Our sponsor wanted the bill to go through quickly so it became an official bill, HB 308, long before all the changes were made. Delaware has a 2 year legislative session during which the Assembly only meets from January through June. 2008 was the second half of the session, meaning that if our bill did not pass by June, it would die, and our sponsors would have to be re-elected. We were told that our chances for passage during the session were good unless we took too much time making changes.

Auspicious Events

What we didn't realize during the fall, while we were drafting the bill, was that the Board of Medical Practice was also working on rectifying our legal limbo! In response to an inquiry from a lawyer regarding the legality of having a non-physician practicing in a doctor’s office, they had formed a 3-member Acupuncture Committee which had already been reviewing all the acupuncture laws from other states. We then showed up with our bill already drafted. The support of the committee, and thence of the entire Board, was immediate and positive. At no point was it suggested that we should be practicing under supervision, or that the law require us to have referral or prescriptions prior to treating our patients.

It was a stroke of good luck that the president of the Board of Medical Practice had studied acupuncture. He made sure to appoint a good Acupuncture Committee, which consisted of a doctor, a public member, and a DO who not only was sympathetic to acupuncture but also possessed considerable political savvy. He spent a lot of time advising us regarding language revisions in person and during official meetings.

The way we connected with the committee was a bit odd. I sent the bill’s draft to the head of the DPR. He was on the ball and put it on the agenda of the next Acupuncture Committee meeting. Once we knew about the committee, I tried to contact the committee members with a letter & draft of the bill, but I had to do this by sending it indirectly through the DPR via email – not a good idea as some of them don't read email. It wasn't until a month later that our DO friend happened to call one of his doctor friends who works with a local herbalist. He then called me, and we made contact.

Fortunately, we had a great contact, through a practitioner's office, with a House staff director. She shepherded us every step of the way through the House. We also got immense help from Betsy Smith of the NCCAOM. She traveled to both a House and a Senate committee meeting to provide testimony. She provided answers and data to all sorts of questions, and she gathered valuable opinions from other national advisors. Thank you Betsy!

The Dreaded “In Committee” Time

The bill was assigned to the House Policy and Government Accountability Committee, aka the “Sunset Committee.” When the Committee chair realized that we had been existing in Delaware essentially illegally for 36 years, he wrote that he was “personally embarrassed” that the Assembly hadn't taken care of the situation. Aha! Now we had political will to get the bill passed.

A House staff person with experience with other healthcare licensing bills was appointed to oversee our negotiations, which took four full meetings to finish. Even though the Board of Medical Practice was now happy with the bill, we had to reword the scope of practice to please the dieticians, massage therapists, and physical therapists. The chiropractors did not request any changes. The scope changed to include such lovely phrases as “manual meridian therapy” and “Oriental dietary therapy,” which is defined partly as furnishing non-fraudulent information about herbs, vitamins, etc.

Being the Last Kid on the Block to Get Licensing Means You Have to Compromise.

We also had to make changes requested by the Medical Society. At first interpretation it looked alarmingly like they wanted to license physicians under our bill as acupuncturists without any qualifications – this was unacceptable. However, once I had a personal meeting with the physician/acupuncturist behind the changes it became clear that his only intent was to make sure our bill did not somehow interfere with the ability of physicians in Delaware to use acupuncture. This was a fairly easy issue to solve, although the bill ended up with some language we were a bit uncomfortable with. We were told that if everyone leaves the negotiation table just a little unhappy, then it is a good bill because everyone has had to compromise on some point or other.

This doctor also thought it would be useful to have a physician with acupuncture training on the Acupuncture Advisory Council – but adding another member would have thrown the voting balance off. The DPR suggested the happy solution of having an “ex officio” physician/acupuncturists member who could advise but not vote.

We should all take heart from the fact that all during this process the physicians were helpful and supportive of us getting a license. This indicates the time has really come for our profession to have a place in the general medical community.

A second general acupuncture state meeting was held on March 15 to review the changes and progress made so far. There were so many changes to the bill that we were told it would be pulled and given a new number (HB 377), since it looks better politically to have a “clean” bill.

A BIG CHANGE

The original intent of this bill was to be an acupuncture bill, which would require NCCAOM certification in acupuncture alone for licensing. However, herbs were placed in the scope of practice as has been done in other states.

One of the practitioners in the state had correctly predicted that this might turn out to be a problem; but it turned out to be a problem with an obvious solution. When the Medical Society physician reviewed the ACAOM educational standards and the NCCAOM certification standards, he noted that there currently are standards for the study of herbology which are separate and above those for acupuncture alone. He felt that the bill should reflect these additional standards for herbs. He and the Board doctor agreed with our suggestion that we adopt a 2-tiered system, similar to PA and MA, where one can practice with an acupuncture license only or else with an Oriental Medicine license which allows herbs. (Some of you reading may be nodding your heads as this is a very big issue nationally and is currently causing legislative changes in NY and NJ.)

This was NOT fine with the DPR. Delaware massage therapists currently have a 2-tiered system which confuses the public and will soon be changed to one license, so the DPR did not want to create another 2-tiered license. The morning before what we all hoped was the last negotiating meeting (April 10), I was offered the solution of changing the bill to “Oriental Medicine” for the licensing standard, instead of a 2-tiered system. Because the clock was ticking and this was obviously the direction the doctors and DPR wanted, I agreed to this, and the details were worked out during the meeting (4 acupuncturists and an herbalist were present).

We had another general acupuncture meeting and conferred via email and telephone regarding this change. One acupuncturist and 2 apprentices objected, partly on the basis that requiring all new practitioners to have herbal credentials—in the form of OM certification—might shut out many practitioners from other states who practice acupuncture alone. Everyone else who participated was in favor, including the 5-Element practitioners from TAI-Sophia.

Reasons in Favor of “Oriental Medicine”

The NCCAOM OM certification is relatively new and thus not yet possessed by the majority of acupuncturists in the USA. However, the National Acupuncture Foundation book of state laws (2005) shows that over half of the licensed practitioners are in states which require herbal education. This bill allows the Acupuncture Advisory Council to waive the OM requirement for a Delaware license if an applicant can show sufficient education or experience, and so does not shut out those people.

Another reason for using OM in our license is that this is the trend in our profession. The 2003 NCCAOM Job Analysis found that 93% of acupuncturists (who answered the survey) practice herbs. If we are using herbs then we need to show that we have the training to use them responsibly, which can be done by using the OM certification.

AAAOM alternate public member Michael Taromina, a lawyer with the NY acupuncture group as well as the NCCAOM Ethics Council, was kind enough to advise us that having the OM requirement, along with including herbs in our scope, would have many benefits over having a 2-tiered system including:

  1. giving us the best security from the FDA regarding herbs;
  2. taking away current obstacles for acupuncturists working in hospital or clinical settings;
  3. helping with malpractice coverage for herbology practice; and
  4. protecting from future domain infringement from other professions.

For these powerful reasons we pushed ahead with the new OM standard in the bill. One of the doctors was uncomfortable with grandfathering all of the current practitioners into the full OM license (over half of us have full herbal training, but only 4 have the full OM certification), but the head of the DPR was successfully persuasive in favor of grandfathering everyone. A clause was also added to allow the apprentices currently studying acupuncture to receive a full license.

Once these negotiations were completed, the bill was released out of committee with its new number and passed the House with a unanimous vote! It was interesting to experience the House floor, which was like a busy, crowded school homeroom with people wandering around joking with each other and passing notes. The roll call had the cadence of an auction as the Representative names were called and “yeses” were said so rapidly that we could scarcely realize our good fortune.

ON TO THE SENATE

The President Pro Tempore of the Delaware Senate gets to assign bills into committee – which gives him power to bury it or to help it into a supportive committee. Because the physicians were supporting us, the bill was appropriately assigned to the Health & Human Services Committee which was chaired by our co-sponsor, Senator Margaret Rose Henry.

The senate committee hearing was not easy, as the objections raised about the change to OM needed to be addressed. It helped enormously that Betsy Smith made another trip to present NCCAOM information, the Medical Society doctor/acupuncturist helped answer questions, and once again the head of the DPR was very persuasive. If we had tried to write a bill that wouldn't work from the DPR point of view, it never would have passed. It was interesting to see the variety in quality of attention that different senators gave – 2 had to pop in and out to go vote on budget issues in a different meeting, one senator followed every detail and asked good questions, while another actually fell asleep!

Once we had addressed all the questions, the bill was released without changes because we had already done so many negotiations in the House. Our physician supporters came through with emails and phone calls to senators to explain why they wanted the bill passed. All along we had encouraged grassroots support of the bill from patients. When the bill came up for a vote in the senate I was very nervous about the potential for having to testify, but it turned out the hardest part was waiting through various ceremonies with Special Olympics and Eagle Scouts. Once it came up for a vote, the bill got a unanimous 21-yes-vote-salute!

We had a signing ceremony (read: photo-op) with Governor Ruth Ann Minner on June 27, 2008. While it will be a while before the regulations and procedures are in place, we all can breathe a sigh of relief to be a valid licensed profession in the state of Delaware.


National AOM Issues

Guide to Using Your Credentials Correctly!

By Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Betsy Smith, Deputy Director, and Mina Larson, Director of Communications and Marketing, NCCAOM

One thing is certain about our community and that is the number of impressive credentials that many practitioners hold; however, judging from the variety of methods used to display the credentials which follow a practitioner’s name on business cards, in publications, and everywhere else, there appears to be much confusion about how to use and list credentials correctly. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) practitioners work hard to earn their credentials, not only is it important to display your credentials, but it is equally important to list them correctly.

What’s a Credential?

Before we can start using credentials correctly, we need to understand what each credential is, how it is categorized and, subsequently how it should be displayed. Below is a brief description of the different types of credentials used by professionals and the correct way to use them:

Degree (e.g. M.S., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., D.O.M., etc.)

These credentials are awarded based on the completion of a particular educational program. The choice of whether to use all your degrees is a personal one. In most cases, one should list the lowest to the highest degree earned, such as “Mary Smith, M.S, Ph.D.”. The preferred method is to list only the highest academic degree, for example, only the Ph.D. even though you may have earned a Masters degree as well. If you have also earned a Masters (M.S.,MOM, MBA, etc.); however, you may want to highlight it if the degree is important to your career at the current time. For example, you may have a D.O.M. degree, but you may wish to highlight that you earned an MBA, if, for instance, you are running a clinic or another type of business. Your degrees would then be designated, Joe Smith, D.O.M., MBA.

State Licensure (e.g., L.Ac., R.N., L.P.N.)

The state licensure credential is generally awarded based on the completion of a specified educational program, and the successful passing of a national licensure or certification exam along with other requirements specified by the state issuing the credential. The licensure credential allows the person to practice in the issuing state. Using the case above, if Joe Smith is a licensed acupuncturist, typically his designations would be displayed as Joe Smith D.O.M., MBA, L.Ac.( or other similar designation).

Some states have also protected the titles they use in their regulations or statutes, which means you cannot use a protected credential in that state unless authorized to do so by the board or commission that governs practice of acupuncture. To do so would be violating law in that state.

Professional Certification

These credentials are awarded by a nationally recognized, usually accredited, certifying body, such as NCCAOM. These professional certification credentials are usually linked to the knowledge, skills and abilities competencies for a particular profession which must be validated through a national role delineation or job task analysis. Certifications like the CAE (Certified Association Executive) from the American Society of Association Executive’s certification commission would also be included here as a professional credential. National certifications can be entry-level or advanced certifications such as Nurse Practitioner. For practitioners in the AOM community who have earned an entry-level certification from the NCCAOM, the designations are: Dipl. OM (NCCAOM), Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM) and Dipl. A.B.T (NCCAOM).

Other Credentials

These can include a variety of things like certification for computer skills, for instance, those who earn a certificate through Microsoft. These credentials may or may not be associated with the profession or license, but they do indicate additional skill sets a person has acquired through education or testing. Typically these are awarded after a specified curriculum has been completed or mastered. Another type of credential is one to qualify for membership or a membership status. Examples of these designations would be a “Fellow” designation. These may be earned on the basis of earning certification and/or meeting professional credentials and service criteria, or both. A recent example in the AOM community is the Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (FABORM).

Awards or Honors

These awards are given to individuals who are selected for their outstanding service or accomplishments in a particular area. Generally these are not listed as designations after the individual’s name, instead are listed on a resume or curriculum vitae. Examples of these designations are the Fulbright Distinguished Senior Fellowship or a Distinguished Scholar or Teacher Award from a University.

The NCCAOM Certification Credentials

It is puzzling to see the number of certified NCCAOM Diplomates who do not list their national certification credentials. One of the benefits of becoming certified by the NCCAOM is the distinction of using your Diplomate credentials. It is a considerable professional achievement to earn the designation “Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Diplomate of Acupuncture, Diplomate of Chinese Herbology or Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy from the NCCAOM. NCCAOM certification indicates to employers, patients, and peers that one has met national standards for the safe and competent practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine as defined by the profession. National board certification in acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Asian Bodywork Therapy and Oriental Medicine has been the mark of excellence in AOM since the inception of each certification program. It is for this reason that the NCCAOM encourages all of NCCAOM Diplomates to correctly and uniformly utilize their credentials after their name along with the initials of NCCAOM in parenthesis. NCCAOM is in the process of receiving trademark for all (registered) NCCAOM designations by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It already has received an international trademark for its logo, service marks, and tagline.

Proper Display of Credentials

Below is a chart that displays the accurate designations for each NCCAOM certification, as well as academic credentials and other designations. Also included in the chart are examples of how to designate more than one NCCAOM certification, along with other credentials and how to list your credentials in the proper order. It is important to remember that your academic degree is listed first, directly after your name, then your certification and finally your licensure title. The general rule of thumb is “Follow your name with the credential that is least likely to be taken away, in descending order, with awards or fellowship designations last.” If multiple certifications are earned, the most recently earned one is usually placed last. It is the hope that all practitioners will use this chart as a guide for all further communication. See Table 1. below:

Table 1: Proper Designations for NCCAOM Certifications with Other Credentials and Designations

AcupunctureChinese HerbologyAsian Bodywork TherapyOriental Medicine
John Smith, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)John Smith, Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM)John Smith, Dipl. A.B.T. (NCCAOM)John Smith, Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)
John Smith, M.A, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), L.Ac.John Smith, M.B.A., J.D., Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM), L.Ac.John Smith, M.O.M., Dipl. A.B.T. (NCCAOM), R.N.John Smith, Ph.D., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM), L.Ac.
John Smith, M.A, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), L.Ac., FABORMJohn Smith, M.B.A., J.D., Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM), L.Ac. CI AOBTA®, John Smith, M.O.M., R.N., Dipl. A.B.T. (NCCAOM), CP AOBTA®John Smith, Ph.D., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM), L.Ac. , FABORM

Please remember that educating the public about what your credentials mean is your responsibility. If you are applying for a particular job, giving an important presentation or promoting your practice, you can be sure that properly displaying your degrees and credentials will provide additional information on your background and skills. You worked hard to get them, so by all means use them –correctly – and have them pay off for you.

References:

For additional information on the different types of acronyms, please go to acronyms.thefreedictionary.com

For more information on state designated titles for acupuncturists, please go to the NCCAOM website at www.nccaom.org/applicants/state_data/State_sheet.htm

Taking a Holistic Strategy on the Road

By Geoff Barrett

The Sustainable Living Roadshow (SLR) tour is touring the country to connect with underserved communities by promoting sustainable living. Our mission at Alternative Healing Network (AltHealNet) is to integrate medicine through the use of all healing modalities. We accomplish this by creating community/family based events that support both local alternative medical practitioners and "Western" medical personnel who have joined together to integrate all available medical options.

The Alternative Healing Network, Inc. (AltHealNet.org) is organizing the Natural Health and Healing Farmacy for this fall's "Be the Change" tour of the SLR from August 24 through November 1. SLR is made up of a caravan of educators and entertainers touring the country in a fleet of 5-10 renewable fuel vehicles. Their goal is to empower communities and individuals to utilize sustainable living strategies for a healthier planet.

The tour kicks off at each of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Denver and Minneapolis, then it will be held in Chicago, Knoxville, New Orleans, and other cities, culminating in Los Angeles during the November elections.

www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org

Democratic National Convention - Denver, CO - Aug. 24 - 28

Republican National Convention - St. Paul, MN - Sept. 1 - 7

Harvest Festival - St. Paul, MN - Sept. 5 - 7

University of Illinois - Chicago, IL - Sept. 13 - 14

U.S. Presidential Elections - Los Angeles, CA - Nov. 1 - 2

This is a three-month tour with other tours scheduled for 2009. Further plans include duplicating this type of tour as sponsorships and public awareness increases.

We heartily welcome your participation and assistance, your efforts (sweat equity), ideas, and ability so that we can increase the awareness of integrative medicine in the lives of people everywhere.

We are looking in each state on the tour for acupuncturists and other holistic practitioners in all modalities who are licensed and insured. Practitioners who are interested in reaching as many people as possible are needed to share the benefits of preventative and holistic health care as a vital part of Sustainable Living. Because the tour is being supported by companies and private donations, we will offer the public free treatments from licensed and insured practitioners in the cities we are visiting.

We are looking for practitioner volunteers for each state who will act as organizers to connect the local healing community with local participants and attendees of the SLR Roadshow. We are also conducting off-site Family/Integrative Health Night events with local YMCAs, YWCAs and Boys and Girls clubs which will serve as hosts for additional underserved community opportunities.

This local healing event model has been growing in San Diego because of our "consciously fun" and family-friendly integrative practices. Local events include Integrative/Family Health Nights, Alternative Happy Hours, and local Healing Arts Festivals where community members can experience a variety of healing modalities. During the San Diego fires of 07,' the health care community in that area responded in a generous way; and we welcome this opportunity to help establish similar experiences where you live.

AltHealNet's board of directors consists of doctors in the San Diego area, acupuncturists, founders of family health centers and others concerned about the state of our current health care system. Dr. Ellen Beck is a national figure who has run free medical clinics for over 10 years (meded.ucsd.edu/freeclinic/). Ellen fully backs the aims of this tour. We have relationships across the country with health care practitioners and others whom we are connecting with now to finalize the tour set-up.

Our challenge: we need your assistance in getting the word out to your community and finding people from your local chapter organizations who can take charge of organizing the volunteers participating in SLR’s events. We will have both daily events at the field where we will be camped/based, as well as working with local YMCA or Boys & Girls clubs to host an event at a nearby off site location.

For more info on AHN: althealnet.org
If you are interested in participating, please contact Geoff at AHN: gbarrett27@gmail.com or (619) 288-7220

To participate virtually on the SLR Community Forum, please join:

"Preventative and Holistic Medicine, vital to Sustainability!"
www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3

If you have suggestions for tour locations and/or sponsorship, please contact the SLR directly at:
www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org/sponsor_us.php

Integrator Blog News & Reports

Integration, by nature, asks us to open our peripheral visions. We are served to look at the whole of the field. We need to develop new fascia, new connectivity. Opportunities crop up in new places. The Integrator Blog News and Reports is meant to provide you with information, insights and tools to enhance integrated care in the environment you serve.

- John Weeks, publisher-editor

From Research to Practice: Samueli Institute's Work on Integrative Medicine in the Military

Perhaps the best way to gauge the impact of a healthcare researcher's work is whether medical practice changed. By such a measure, the Samueli Institute's robust military research initiative relative to integrative practices, led by Joan Walter, JD, PA is showing significant success. Pilot projects in auricular acupuncture, for instance, have led to education of Air Force doctors in a novel, 5-point auricular acupuncture protocol. A Yoga Nidra trial is incorporated in a program for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder. Here is a look at some Samueli Institute initiatives that are transitioning from research to practice. Will these breakthroughs one day shift civilian care?
More ...

Zunin's Hawaii Blue Cross Pilot Shows Benefits from Integrative Outpatient Pain Program

In 2005, Hawaii's major Blue Cross Blue Shield carrier, HMSA, contracted with Manakai O Malama, the integrative clinic founded by Ira Zunin, MD, MPH, MBA on an unusual integrative, outpatient pilot for some of their most costly, pain-ridden, disabled members. The elaborate approach included diverse mind-body approaches, Feldenkrais and Yoga, and group acupuncture. Zunin, who was interested in a thorough biopsychosocial model, observes of the positive outcomes - reduced anxiety and depression, lower disability, reduced opiate use - that the ethical value in group process has both "carrot and stick" sides. Here is the pilot, with its outcomes.
More ...

Regarding Drop-Value, Antecedents and Whether It's All About MDs: David Rakel's Integrative Medicine Textbook

Integrative Medicine, developed and edited by David Rakel, MD, makes quite an impression. The 1238 page volume, with over 100 authors, 97% either MD/DO or medical-school affiliated, marks an arrival and launching pad for that field. The text asserts a body of knowledge and is immediately a political tool for the advance of that field. I was reminded, on reviewing the book's look and feel, of a moment two decades ago when A Textbook of Natural Medicine, was published. That book allowed the re-emerging field of naturopathic medicine to claim it was modeling a new form of science-based, integrated care. What does Rakel's remarkable contribution assert about "integrative medicine" and in particular about the value of other disciplines? Here are my reflections plus Rakel's comments on the book's intent, and some next steps.
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Is "Integrative Medicine" By, For and About MDs?

[From my column at Integrative Practitioner Online] Three recent encounters with initiatives in “integrative medicine,” plus the letters received at the Integrator, strongly suggest that this field will increasingly be viewed as an MD subsidiary unless remedial action is taken to affirm a more inclusive role for non-MD integrative medicine professionals. I am not sure what to think about this. Here are my reflections for my column of this title for Integrative Practitioner Online.
More ...

Michael Levin: Statins for 8-year-olds and Mayo Clinic's Whole Practice, Integrative Treatment

The big medical news just after Independence Day was that, following new American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, thousands of children will soon be dependent on statins for cholesterol management. Integrator columnist Michael Levin muses on this news together with a virtually unnoticed whole system, integrative Mayo Clinic study which found that lifestyle, supplements, diet and yoga or Tai chi not only lowered cholesterol but also weight and who knows what other positive outcomes. Are statins parenting replacement therapies?
More ...

Integrative Medicine and Integrated Health Care Round-up: July 16-31, 2008

Report shows hundreds of million in savings to states from wellness model ... Center for Disease Control director Gerberding calls for "changing the conversation" in order to make the U.S. the "healthiest nation" via new CDC campaign ... Licensed complementary healthcare practitioners still not included in healthcare workforce dialogue ... Debate at the University of Bridgeport to focus on whether chiropractors should follow the New Mexico model of primary care chiropractic with limited prescribing rights ... NCCAOM pushes to get acupuncture and Oriental medicine recognized as a profession by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ... AMA and OB/Gyn opposition to homebirth sparks debate on ABC news site ... Chiropractic lobbying may open a door for all "CAM" colleges ... Wake Forest integrative medicine's Kathy Kemper, MD, MPH shares new integrative clinical services ... True North's Bethany Hays, MD honored by the Institute for Functional Medicine with the 2008 Linus Pauling Award ...
More ...

Articles from July AMA SOPP Escalates Campaign Against Nurses, Chiropractors, Naturopaths, Midwives and Others

In June meetings, the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association (AMA) kicked off an escalating round of attacks on the advancement of other healthcare professions. Targeted this year were all disciplines with doctoral-level training, as well as licensed midwives. Chiropractors, naturopathic physicians and nurses - who cited Wilk v AMA - are among those quick to challenge the AMA. The AMA actions are part of that guild's divisive AMA Scope of Practice Partnership (SOPP), announced in January 2006. Meantime, one action at the House of Delegates meeting suggests that the snake on the AMA's caduceus may be biting its own tail. Resolution 235 is an effort to keep the AMA's own specialty societies from legislative actions that seek to restrict each other's scope of practice.
More ...

How the IOM-Bravewell Integrative Medicine Summit Could Make a Difference: A Proposed Action Plan

Do you think the National Summit on Integrative Medicine can make a difference? Planning for this February 25-27, 2009 gathering, sponsored by a partnership of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and the Bravewell Collaborative, is under way. I organize my recommendations around areas where exploration of integrative practice could have a significant impact on the nation's health care crisis. The high notes are a health-oriented approach, outpatient services, the patient-centered medical home, respect for multiple disciplines, researching whole practices as basis for managing chronic disease, and whole cost accounting. How do you think this Summit might create possibilities which the IOM's 2005 report didn't already open?
More ...

Institute of Medicine Names Planning Team for Integrative Medicine Summit: Snyderman to Chair

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences has announced a 12-person planning committee which will oversee development of the February 25-27, 2009 National Summit on Integrative Medicine and Health of the Public. The IOM is sponsoring the Summit in partnership with the Bravewell Collaborative of philanthropists. Here is a look at the 12 member team, chaired by Ralph Snyderman, MD, plus some musing on the not very integrated mix. Nine are MDs, suggesting that to the IOM, "integrative medicine" is an MD franchise. The Bravewell philanthropists have made a substantial commitment to make this happen.
More ...

IHPM/Employer Focus: Intel Explores Manual Therapies as an Onsite Musculoskeletal Pain Solution

Why would an employer want to explore a complementary therapy? How might a pilot project be established? This article describes a relationship between microprocessor giant Intel, researchers looking for onsite solutions to low-back pain at the Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM), and the Dorn Companies, which hires licensed massage therapist to supply a Rolfing-based manual therapy to employees. Outcomes of this pilot project will be reported at the IHPM's fall conference in Scottsdale, October 15-17, 2008.
More ...

Columnist Levin: $24-Billion Savings through Supplement Interventions Says Lewin Group

Integrator columnist Michael Levin recently had occasion to read a series of reports, prepared by the internationally-known health care consulting firm, The Lewin Group. The subject: possible cost impact of pro-actively using a few dietary supplement interventions for a handful of conditions. The outcomes were compelling. Levin argues that this kind of work, funded by the dietary supplement industry, exemplifies forward thinking collaborative effort needed to advance the integrative and natural health fields. The story of this strategic funding will be familiar to chiropractic.
More ...

Practice Management

Business Strategies for Acupuncturists

By Carrie Craddock, LAc

Whether your acupuncture business is brand new or you have been open for many years, a review of your business strategies is a means to build your business now and for the future. Many acupuncturists do not have expertise in the field of business, and the thought of stepping into this role may bring feelings of fear and frustration.

After graduating from acupuncture school, many acupuncturists are excited about opening their own business. Armed with strong skills as an acupuncturist, they feel confident that they will succeed in obtaining their goals, but they may forget that a large part of the success equation includes understanding basic business concepts. Many statistics are available regarding the failure of small businesses in the United States, but no one is sure just how many fail (go through bankruptcy) versus how many businesses are closed because they are unable to produce a reasonable living for the owner. In business school, I was taught that as many as 80% of all new businesses are closed within the first five years of operation. Understanding this statistic gives you the ability to realize the importance of exerting effort and time into learning about business skills.

The all important business plan

When you decided to open an acupuncture business, I hope that you took the time to write a business plan. Most of you wrote a business plan while attending acupuncture school, so you probably know some basics already. A business plan is a look into the future with your best estimate of how your business will operate. If you have not written a business plan, or have not updated your plan in the last couple of years, take the time to do so. This is an investment in your future. Many free or inexpensive options are available to assist you in writing your plan. Visit the U.S. Small Business Association’s website at www.sba.gov. The SBA offers online help in writing a plan and also offers free consultations in your local area. Although I have a business background, I took my plan to the local SBA office and received valuable ideas about my business. For example, the SBA officer suggested contacts in the local community who would be interested in learning about acupuncture as a treatment option for BWC claims.

As part of your business planning, remember to gather a group of trusted advisors to help you with your business. Ideally, your trusted advisors can be a family member, a friend, a colleague, and another business owner. Each of these individuals can give you insight into your business that you may not be able to see because you are too involved in the business. While I was in acupuncture school, I spoke to my mother who is in her 70s although she never owned her own business. I asked her many questions about the needs of senior citizens and how I could attract this segment of the population to my clinic. My mother is one of my many trusted advisors.

The marketing plan and market analysis

As you are developing your business plan, a part of this should be a marketing plan. A marketing plan details the actions to achieve your business results by defining who your customers are, what will they buy, and what specific actions you or your business need to take to achieve your goals. A marketing plan is, once again, an estimate that can be updated each year as you gain a deeper understanding of your customers. There are many books and Internet sites available to help you write a marketing plan.

One of the most important segments of your marketing plan will be the market analysis. Frequently, acupuncturists open the doors to their business without looking at their community or performing a market analysis. Go to your local Chamber of Commerce or search for information on the Internet about your community. Who is the average resident, what is their age, their occupation? If you want a successful practice in your community, you must adhere to their needs, not your needs, in the development of your business. Define your market first by understanding the people who live and work in your local area. By doing this, you will begin to understand the motivation and expectations of your patients as well as the obstacles that you must overcome to build a successful business.

As you continue to understand your customers, begin to look deeper at their social beliefs, opinions, and values. The décor of your clinic, the hours of operation, and how you dress should be dictated by the social beliefs, opinions, and values of your community. Every region and city has some of the same, yet some very different, obstacles in building a new business. Your goal in creating a business and marketing plan is to drill down to the essential elements necessary to build your business while overcoming any obstacles. Some of these exercises are truly easy to complete, but some will make even the most business savvy acupuncturist squirm.

As I began to write this article, I read in Columbus Business First about the Ohio State Chiropractic Association’s (OSCA) marketing to reposition the public’s opinion of chiropractors. OSCA is taking a hard look at their market to try to overcome some huge obstacles that they realized through a market analysis. A study showed that the public used words such as creepy, bogus, and quacky to describe chiropractors. The general public’s perception is that chiropractors are distrustful, and there is a general disbelief that chiropractic actually works. The OSCA understands that way to overcome this obstacle is to change the behavior of their practitioners to match the needs of the public, which will eventually change the public’s opinion. Their model is being reviewed by chiropractic organizations all over the country because there is a public core belief system needing to be changed in order for all chiropractors to succeed long term. Performing a market analysis led the association to understand this huge obstacle in developing viable long term success for chiropractors. I was thrilled to read this article because it is difficult as well to listen, understand, and then act to overcome the obstacles in our own market.

In completing your market analysis, ask for direct feedback as the OSCA asked about chiropractic, even if it might be difficult for you to hear. Once I build a relationship with a patient, I ask the patient the opinion of their family and friends about acupuncture and acupuncturists. The sad reality is that the general public’s perception of acupuncturists in Ohio is no different from the perception of chiropractors. My patients do not offer this information easily, and your patients may not have shared the thoughts of their family or friends with you. The family and friends of your patient are potential clients, so developing a strategy to dispel these beliefs will help your business blossom. I speak to every new patient about my training, the fact that my needles are disposable, and that my license is from the state medical board. I provide this information so my patient can educate their circle of influence, their family, and their friends who are all potential patients.

After reading this information, are you overwhelmed? As an acupuncturist, I personally know the level of difficulty in graduating from acupuncture school and passing your board exams, so I know that each of you can also complete a business and marketing plan. Develop a list of achievable results for yourself and schedule time in your calendar to work on your plans. Spend a few hours each week dedicated to the future of your business, and the results will pay off for you.

Carrie Craddock, LAac maintains an acupuncture practice in Delaware, Ohio. Prior to attending acupuncture school, she obtained bachelor and master degrees in business. She worked for sixteen years in sales and marketing in the financial services industry specializing in new product development.

“State’s chiropractors write themselves a script to mend ailing brand,” Columbus Business First, Carrie Ghose, June 27, 2008

Healthy Alternatives: an interview with Regina Danvers

QUR: How did you first become interested in alternative medicine?

RD: I was diagnosed with scleroderma in 1993. Allopathic medicine was a dead end as it gave me no hope. I suffered from this condition for years. After reading the book What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You by Jane Heimlich, I started to read as much as I could about alternative medicine. I found the alternative medicine directory and learned about all of the therapies and modalities available.

QUR: Did you feel misgivings about trying something you didn’t know much about?

RD: At first I was hesitant to step outside of the box because of how I had been conditioned by the allopathic medicine community. Then I realized I had nothing to lose since I had been given a “death sentence,” as it were.

QUR: How do you think acupuncture helped you?

Well, actually I had previously used acupuncture successfully for smoking cessation. It decreased my urge to smoke. I went in with the mindset that it wasn’t going to worth. I was surprised when she put needles in my ear. Now I'm open to and enlightened about all the benefits of acupuncture. Sometimes you don’t know you’re not feeling bad until you feel better. My allergies have gotten better with treatment, too. There are so many more benefits that I have come to feel since I first started looking into it.

QUR: You mentioned that acupuncture is also helping your husband. Is that right?

Yes, he used acupuncture for glaucoma--he needs additional treatments but feels he has made better progress than with his conventional eye-drops. He says that acupuncture is helping him see better.

QUR: Did your contact with acupuncture inspire you to launch your television program?

Not specifically, but it has in conjunction with the many therapies, techniques, and modalities available thru AOM.

QUR: Do you think the American public is more accepting of AOM than in the past?

Absolutely, they are now savvy to the proven results of using AOM. They feel skeptical of and/or disappointed with allopathic medicine, so they are stepping out of the box and ready to try something different.

QUR: What do you think practitioners can do to overcome public hesitation to choose AOM services?

I think holding health fairs with free demonstrations helps spread the word. They can also cite the successful treatments of their patients in their advertising. . .not to mention sponsoring TV shows like "Healthy Alternatives"!

Regina Danvers hosts “Healthy Alternative” a public television program in North Carolina that explores AOM. AAAOM board member Bill Reddy recently appeared on Regina’s show. She may be reached at (910) 213-6461.


AAAOM Activities

Nominations Deadline approaching for 2008 - 2009 Board of Directors

Response Date: September 5, 2008

Nominations Form: www.aaaomonline.org/interactive.asp?ID=19

Important note: Voting package and ballot will arrive during the week of September 14. Please open immediately and respond.

Nominations to the Board

Are you interested in helping to take our profession to the next level?

AAAOM invites you to be part of a valued group of colleagues who are stepping up to guide AOM in the frontiers of the new health care paradigm.

Board Openings:

We are now accepting nominations for the AAAOM Board of Directors. Elections will take place at our upcoming Chicago Conference at the October 18, 2008, members business meeting.

Serving on the AAAOM Board of Directors is an important way to make a significant difference in the profession. We welcome those who choose to challenge their professional and personal lives by making the commitment to serve in this manner.

Nominations are now being accepted for Practitioner candidates and Public Member candidates. You may nominate yourself or someone else. (Public Members will be selected by the AAAOM Board and will not be voted on by members at the conference in Chicago.) By the date of the election, Practitioner candidates must have been a AAAOM member for a minimum of one year by the date of the election.

For the 2008 election, three practitioner seats (which have a term of three years) and two alternate practitioner seats will be open for nomination and election. Please submit the following information in the response form located here: www.aaaomonline.org/interactive.asp?ID=19

Information provided by candidates for a Practitioner seat will be posted online to assist members in making their voting decisions. Direct email submissions will not be accepted. You must use the interactive form provided or submit via U. S. mail to:
AAAOM Elections Committee
P. O. Box 162340
Sacramento, CA 95816

Posting of Nominations: We will post nominations as they are received. Your submission must be received in our office by September 5, 2008. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Candidates who are selected will be expected to communicate regularly via email, actively participate on committees, and attend board meetings. Two board meetings are held in person: one at our annual conference and one at another time during the year end. Partial travel expense reimbursement is provided by the AAAOM. A minimum of two other regularly scheduled board meetings are held via conference call. Please keep in mind that these positions do require a substantial time commitment.

Voting Changes: As a result of technological advancements, important voting changes are being proposed for the purpose of:
--heightening the efficiency of our voting procedures, and
--expanding the opportunity to vote electronically for AAAOM members that are unable to attend the annual meeting.

At the upcoming Chicago conference we will implement voting via an onsite electronic voting system so that voting results will be known immediately and subsequently published online.

Within 30 days of that conference, all voting members in good standing will receive a mail ballot that proposes to change bylaws to include an online voting mechanism. If passed, this change will be reflected in the process used to vote before the April 2009 AAAOM Conference.

Remain alert to receipt of this information. It positively affects your ability to vote as an individual regardless of whether or not you attend the conference. You will personally want to cast your vote on this proposal, via email or by using the mail-in vote form that will be provided.

Look for posted details on the AAAOM website Press Room.

Should you have questions, please contact Elections Committee co-chairs Jeanette Rockers at: jrockers@aaaomonline.org and Jeannie Kang: jeannie@goodki.com.

AAAOM Notice of Annual General Meeting of Members

The Annual General Meeting of Members of the American Association of Oriental Medicine, Inc. will be held at the Chicago Westin Northshore, on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 8:00 A.M. (local time).

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/08/Notice_of_Annual_Meeting_2008.pdf

Sneak Preview of Fall ’08 The American Acupuncturist

The AAAOM Conference is coming! The Fall Issue of The American Acupuncturist anticipates the events in Chicago with a report on the AAAOM leaders meeting with Dr. Josephine Briggs, MD and her staff in Washington D.C.

What else does the Fall issue hold?

AAAOM President Martin Herbkersman, MTOM, DiplOM, DAc, FABORM discusses the importance of creating a unified political voice in his President’s Message. AAAOM International Affairs Vice-Chair Jeannie Kang facilitated a translation into Korean, part of our constant effort to reach out to the diversity within our membership and the profession at large.

Editor-in-Chief Adam Burke , PhD, MPH, LAc and Clinical Editor Terry Courtney, MPH, LAc, explain the importance of the dry-needling issue and also introduce the significance of the American Acupuncturist achieving indexing by CINAHL, the nursing index. This will expand the audience of The American Acupuncturist significantly. Further indexing efforts are underway.

In “Forging New Ground: Gaining Clinical Privileges to Practice Acupuncture in a Hospital Setting”, Jeanette Painovich, DAOM, LAc, MA writes about integrative medicine progress in her second look at the hospital acupuncture landscape.

Anupama KizhakkeVeettil et al investigate the literature around AOM approaches to Rhinitis, conducting a meta-analysis better to understand the state of current field research.

Dr. Alan Trachtenberg, MD, MPH, one of the original authors of the NIH statement on acupuncture, elucidates the rationale and imperative on AOM inquiry. He urges his fellow allopathic medical colleagues to explore the possibilities inherent in AOM.

Scott Smith LAc, DiplOM discusses AOM approaches to Metatarsiophalangial Joint Sprain. According to his abstract: “Chinese medicine classifies three stages of trauma and provides a treatment plan according to stage and severity. Injury causes, symptoms, risk factors, acupuncture treatment, herbal formula soaks, and prognoses are discussed.”

With all these great articles and more, The American Acupuncturist continues to offer excellence in AOM news and research. Enjoy!

Links

Links to National AOM Articles

We can transform our plain bath into a pool of water with revitalizing and curing power by adding some ingredients from the household, suggest some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
www.chinesefoodhealth.com

Autism, acupuncture and TCM: a study.
www.wholehealthcenters.com

Enriching its portfolio of wellness opportunities, Crystal Cruises (a luxury cruise line) is introducing onboard acupuncture, along with a menu of Chinese herbs revered for restoring and enhancing health, beauty, and longevity.
www.marketwatch.com
www.usatoday.com

In China shingles patients are treated with acupuncture. This practice is believed to be the reason that there are so few cases of herpetic neuralgia there. In the United States, the use of acupuncture as a treatment for postherpetic neuralgia has received only limited study. However, initial trials have shown promising results.
www.micronutra.com

Here’s some information to decipher the “Alphabet Soup” of acronyms related to the field of Oriental medicine and details on the credentials an Oriental medical professional should have.
trueacu.com

The option of acupuncture became a mainstay at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn after hospital staff and patients participated in research in 2005 to look at not only clinical outcomes but also nurses' attitudes toward acupuncture.
include.nurse.com



Continuing Education and Events

11th Annual World Congress on Qi Gong

San Francisco, CA: People from all over the San Francisco Bay Area will be participating in the 11th annual World Congress on Qi Gong and American Qi Gong Association Conference on September 19-21, 2008. The event will be held at the Golden Gateway Holiday Inn in San Francisco.

This event serves to educate the public about the health benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Events will include Tai Chi and Qi Gong demonstrations for the public by renowned Masters, group Qi cultivation, and community vendor booths. The event is free and open to the public, with part of the proceeds benefiting victims of the earthquake in Sichuan, China. All levels of experience are welcome.

This year’s conference theme is, “Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Individual and Planetary Health: An Essential Balance”. The theme addresses the planetary plight of environmental degradation and global warming. In Qigong, Traditional Chinese Medicine and basic Taoist theory, the actions of human beings integrally affect the planet and vice versa. This fusion of science and traditional healing arts is one of the primary objectives for the Congress.

This prominent event helps raise awareness about the benefits of using these exercises for health and stress management. The World Qi Gong Conference brings people together across economic and geopolitical lines, coming together to celebrate health and healing.

For centuries, millions of people in China have used Tai Chi and Qi Gong as a form of daily exercise: two of the most effective balance and coordination conditioners in the world. The slow and gentle movements and postures of these ancient therapies release blocks in the body’s energy channels and keep muscles strong and supple. The rhythmic movements of the muscles, spine and joints are designed to remove the tense state of muscles to let “Qi,” or vital energy, and blood circulate freely throughout the body. Tai Chi and Qi Gong’s gentle movements and low physical impact make it a great activity for aging bodies, those recovering from injury, young children or people looking to change up their exercise routine.

Studies on Tai Chi have shown it to boost the immune system; slow the aging process; lower blood pressure; reduce the incidence of anxiety, depression, fatigue and overall mood disturbances; minimize the effects of chronic conditions such as allergies and asthma; and improve breathing capacity. Tai Chi has also been recommended as an adjunct therapy for people suffering from chronic pain, AIDS, arthritis, insomnia, asthma, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and psychosomatic illnesses. Other benefits of Tai Chi include building strength, restoring balance, increasing flexibility and reducing stress.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 70 percent of all illness is due to unmanaged stress. Because mind/body therapies such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong can treat or prevent these illnesses, the integration of such modalities into our health institutions could save the United States $700 billion per year, and save trillions per year worldwide.

American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM), a co-sponsor of this event and a non-profit institution, is one of the nation’s oldest and most prominent acupuncture colleges. Since 1980, has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture, massage and Chinese medicine. In addition to its graduate curriculum, ACTCM offers continuing education, public education, community outreach and clinical services in acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted “Best of the Bay” by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. ACTCM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

For more information on this spectacular visual event, please call (415) 355-1601 x12.

Rebecca Wilkowski, BA, CMT, DONA
Director of Communications
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
College: 455 Arkansas Street • (415) 355-1601 x12
Clinic: 450 Connecticut Street • (415) 282-9603
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.actcm.edu

Chinese Herbal Medicine Tele-Course

Learn to use Chinese herbal formulas from the convenience of your own desk.

79 CEUs (NCAAOM)

Begins: 9/23/08

-- This comprehensive course of six modules is presented via teleconference.
-- Each module has a detailed syllabus that is mailed prior to virtual classes.
-- Classes held every Tuesday for 1.5 hours @ 5pm-6:30 PST. The first hour is dedicated to lecture while the remaining half-hour is for questions and case studies.
-- Limited class size for maximum personal instruction.

MODULE I SEPTEMBER 23- NOVEMBER 11 (8 WEEKS)
Introduction to Oriental Medical Theory and Herbal Medicine 19 CEU
Vital Substances and Eight Principals; terminology and concepts intrinsic to Oriental medicine. The matrix of the Chinese herbal materia medica; crude herb examples from each therapeutic categories and pattern Identification of the Zang Fu

MODULE II NOVEMBER 18- DECEMBER 16 (5 WEEKS)
Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Pain: 12 CEU
Muscular skeletal, Headache and Digestive pain

MODULE III JANUARY 6- FEBRUARY 3 (5 WEEKS)
Upper Respiratory Diseases and Eczema 12 CEU
Traditional Chinese Medical diagnosis and herbal treatment of allergies, sinusitis,rhinitis; asthma, common colds and flu
Treating the immune system

MODULE IV FEBRUARY 10- MARCH 10 (5 WEEKS)
Chinese Medicine for Chronic Fatigue and Digestive Disorders 12 CEU
Differential diagnosis and herb treatment of chronic fatigue and related disorders
Diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders using both herbs and dietary protocols

MODULE V: MARCH 17- APRIL 21 (6 WEEKS)
Gynecology: Physiology, Pathology, Herbology 12 CEU
Disorders presented are dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, breast disease, infertility, vaginitis, and menopausal symptoms

MODULE VI APRIL 28- MAY 26 (5 WEEKS) 12 CEU
Psyche and Soma: Understanding Mental-Emotional Disorders and Insomnia
Unravels the Oriental concept of the Five Spirits; Shen, Hun, Po, Zhi and Yi
Diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders and depression and related disorders

SELECTED FORMULAS FROM HEALTH CONCERNS, KAN, THREE TREASURES, WOMEN'S TREASURES AND GOLDEN FLOWER WILL BE PRESENTED.

For course fees go to:
www.eemedicinewisdom/registration
More information contact:
Anastacia White
anaherbs@aol.com
510.420.0905

Learn Bowenwork® in Tucson, AZ

You are invited to a workshop seminar to learn the innovative system of muscle and connective tissue therapy developed by the late Tom Bowen, in Australia. Bowenwork® is a unique soft tissue relaxation technique that relieves pain, realigns postural imbalances and promotes wellbeing. Each module will give 16 CEUs.

Classes are limited in numbers in order to maximize individual feedback.

Arizona School of Oriental Medicine
4646 E Ft Lowell Rd, Suite 104, Tucson, AZ 85712

Module 1: November 14 – 15, 2008: 9am–6pm: $425
Module 2: November 16 – 17, 2008: 9am–6pm: $350
Register by Oct 31, 2008

Contact: Sandra Gustafson: sandragustafson@bowenworkforlife.com
707-876-1905

Local information: Dr. Michael Austin draustin@bowendoctor.com
520-366-8471

For further information: www.bowenwork.com

Society for Acupuncture Research

"Advancing the credibility and uniqueness of acupuncture through research"

Executive Director Search

Join and Support our Visionary Team

The Society for Acupuncture Research, the preeminent acupuncture research organization in the US, committed to promoting, advancing and disseminating scientific inquiry into East Asian medicine systems, seeks a talented and inspirational part-time Executive Director to join and support our visionary team in achieving our mission and objectives.

The ideal candidate will be skilled in articulating a vision of SAR that assures its continued growth into a self-sustaining, successful non-profit organization. We are seeking an individual with experience in resource development and external grant funding, effective organizational, financial and communications skills, a positive, energetic attitude, and a ground-breaking spirit. A passion for, and experience with research and / or Acupuncture or Complementary and Alternative Medicine are a definite plus.

Send your CV and cover letter to: rschnyer@acupunctureresearch.org

For more details about the Society for Acupuncture Research and the Executive Director position, please visit our website at www.acupunctureresearch.org

AAAOM Student Organization

AAAOM National Conference and Expo Offers More to Students!

By Jolene Habeck, President Elect, AAAOM-SO

At this year’s AAAOM National Conference and Expo in Chicago there will be many new opportunities for students to learn and mingle together.

The 3rd Annual National Student Caucus will get things rolling that Saturday morning, from 10am-2pm. During that time, students will be brought up to date on all AAAOM-SO events, accomplishments and goals of the upcoming 2008-2010 term. Also, a variety of speakers, door prizes and scholarships will be given out to students. The meeting will conclude with the AAAOM Student Organizational Council (SOC) Elections. For more information on running for a national position, please visit our website at www.aaaomonline.org/studentservices.

Following the student caucus will be the first ever student specific workshop offered at the AAAOM Conference. The workshop is entitled, Building a Successful Practice, and will be taught by Loni Anderson, L.Ac. Anderson has worked as a paralegal in the U.S. and Japan, lectured at Tokyo University, and had a lucrative coffee business abroad. She obtained her masters in TCM from Emperors College and currently maintains her clinic in Culver City, CA. Seeing the need for acupuncturists to understand business basics, she began to consult and lecture on this subject. Anderson is a commissioner for the Small Business and Health Commissions for the 47th State Assembly District and has worked with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass on legislation for small businesses. This workshop is great opportunity for those who are getting ready to start a practice or who want to modify their current model.

Later Saturday evening, a AAAOM-SO General Membership Meet & Greet will be held at the RAM Brew Pub, located 2 blocks from the Westin, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. This will be a great time to meet the old and new SOC members, as well as students from across the nation, in a casual, fun atmosphere. Appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided, and there will be a cash bar for those interested. After the Meet & Greet, from 9:30pm until midnight, the AAAOM invites all students to join them for the live music and dancing that follows their annual banquet.

New Structure for the AAAOM Student Organization

By Amanda Troelsen, MAc, LAc, DiplAc, CR (ARCB) Reiki Master

The AAAOM-SO has grown to over 1200 members strong— a 400% growth in 2 years! To accommodate this increasing membership, and to “mimic” the leadership structure of the parent organization (AAAOM-BOD), the AAAOM Student Organization Council (SOC) has instituted a new structure to take effect October, 2008.

To be an AAAOM-SOC officer or chairperson, you will need to serve for one year, must be currently enrolled in an ACAOM accredited college and be an AAAOM member in good standing. You will be expected to attend two in-person meetings a year and devote a considerable amount of time to the position. A summarized description of each of the new leadership positions is listed here. For more complete descriptions, please check: www.aaaomonline.info/soc-positions-08.pdf

The above 4 positions comprise the Executive Committee (EC) of the AAAOM-SOC which, in addition to their other duties, provides editing and approval of all promotional materials distributed to the AAAOM-SO general membership.

The AAAOM-SO maintains six standing committees: Conference, Elections, Executive, Legislative, Media/Publications and Membership. All committee and task force chairpersons must be AAAOM-SOC members. Committee chairpersons shall serve as the AAAOM-SOC student representative on all applicable AAAOM committees as needed and approved by the AAAOM-BOD. With the exception of the Executive and Elections Committees, all committees are open to the general membership of the AAAOM-SO. No committee may consist of more than 10-15 members. Unless otherwise provided, all committee chairpersons and members shall hold their positions until the next elections or until successors are appointed.

Task forces are created for a specific need and are of shorter duration than committees. They may be created as needed and approved.

We hope that this new structure will better serve the AAAOM-SO constituents as well as provide more opportunities for involvement on the national level. Any questions regarding the new structure or involvement opportunities can be directed to AAAOM-SO Co-President Amanda Troelsen at atroelsen@comcast.net.

On behalf of the entire SOC, we thank you for your continued support.

Products, Services, and Member Savings

Dear Prospective Advertiser:

Investing your advertising dollars in The American Acupuncturist and the Qi-Unity Report makes good sense for so many reasons:

Join our current advertisers to infuse growth into the field your products and services benefit. The reunified organizational force behind the AAAOM means more power toward serving the growth of alternative medicine.

With so much to gain, what better time is there to advertise in The American Acupuncturist and the Qi-Unity Report? Please contact me to learn more at (866) 455-7999.

Yours in Health,

Douglas Newton
Manager, Program Development and Business Services, AAAOM
866-455-7999
916-443-4766 (fax)
info@aaaomonline.org

ENCLS: AA/QUR Ad Card (PDF); Adv. Contract (PDF)

In closing,

As always, your feedback serves as a useful lens through which we may look at how well we are serving our members. Please take a moment to express your thoughts to us.

General Feedback

In Health,


Rebekah Christensen,
Executive Director
Douglas Newton,
Managing Editor